Bible Questions Answered;
I don't see any need as you say for repentance, I believe, and so am one of God's own.
Jaideep/ Bangalore, India
Bible Answer:
Acts 16:31 KJV (Paul and Silas told the Philippian jailer.)
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Romans 10:9 KJV (Apostle Paul)
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Is repentance taught in the Word of God?:
Acts 11:15-18 NLT
15 “As I began to speak,” Peter continued, “the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as He fell on us at the beginning.
16 Then I thought of the Lord’s words when He said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17 And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?”
18 When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting* of their sins and receiving eternal life.”
*Repentance-Greek-Metanoia (Met-an-oy-ah): Compunction (guilt or remorse), reformation-reversal of decision, repentance.
In repentance, one makes an about-face to (a forsaking) the sins of the past.
Acts 20:21 KJV (The Apostle Paul.)
20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 3:1,2 KJV (John the Baptist, taught.)
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:17 KJV (Jesus taught saying...)
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Luke 13:3 KJV (Jesus)
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 24:45-47 KJV (Jesus)
45 Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Acts 2:38 KJV (Peter)
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:19 KJV (Peter)
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Acts 8:22 KJV (Peter)
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
II Corinthians 7:10 KJV (Apostle Paul.)
For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
II Chronicles 7:14 KJV (God's call.)
If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways (Repentance; about-face); then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Isaiah 55:7 KJV
Let the wicked forsake* his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy
upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
* Forsake-Hebrew-Azab (Aw-zab): To loosen, i.e relinquish, forsake, leave, refuse.
(Abingdon's Strong's Concordance)
Ezekiel 18:21 KJV
But if the wicked will turn* from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all My statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
* Turn-Hebrew-Shuwb (Shoob): Turn back, away, convert, repent, reverse.
Acts 17:30 KJV (Command of God.)
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
If mere mental acceptance of Christ would prevail unto salvation, then too would reading about detergent make one clean.
Far be it. Repentance, is an about-face attitude toward the subject of sin, and a face that is set to follow the Saviour as Lord and Master, of his life.
One may study, and read concerning washing and detergents till one is an expert, and yet, not having been immersed in them, is still unclean.
To know about Christ, and yet having never submitted to Him, is not to know Him as Saviour and Lord, as Lord means master.
For "not," to make Christ, master of one's life, is longing yet to live in sin, and no sinner can enter His kingdom.
I John 1:6-10 KJV
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess (repentance for) our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
Proverbs 28:13 KJV
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth (repentance) and forsaketh (about-face from) them shall have mercy.
Luke 15:10 KJV (Heavens joy.)
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth*.
*Repenteth-Greek-Metanoeo (Met-an-o-eh-o): To think differently, i.e. reconsider, feel compuunction (guilt,remorse), repent.
Psalm 34:18 KJV
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite* spirit.
*Contrite-Hebrew-Dakka (Dak-kaw): Crushed, contrite.
Psalm 51:17 KJV
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Isaiah 66:1,2 KJV
1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that ye build unto Me? and where is the place of My rest?
2 For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Joel 2:12,13 NLT
12 That is why the Lord says, “Turn to Me now, while there is time. Give Me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
13 Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for He is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.
